I was looking at buying a 1971 f250 with 4spd and 360 for parts the truck is with the original owners son his father parked it 15 years ago and it hasn't been run since the main parts i want are the fenders bumper ect. so im am not too concerned with the engine being siezed but i am wondering if there is any chance of getting it to run and what procedure might i follow to get it going ?

another question; this truck has a 3.73 gear ratio and mine has 4.10 would i notice a signifigant increase in milage if i swapped the gears and will they be ok after sitting so long ?


thanks kevin

 

About two months ago I purchased a 71 F100 Sport custom with 360 and C6 automatic that had been parked since 1981. I installed a fresh battery, put 5 gal of gas in, checked the auto tranny fluid, water and engine oil and then hit the starter. I poured a little gas in the carb and she started right up. I wasn't able to drive it home as the old gas evaporated over the years and left the pickup tube clogged in the gas tank but after I resolved that problem, I overhauled the carb, put new plugs, pts, condensor, plug wires, cap and rotor and changed the engine oil and filter, it is running great. I checked the rear end and it was down about half a pint but it works fine too.
Unless the truck was parked because the engine siezed or the rear end was bad. These items are probably fine.
Good luck with it.

 

Just for grins, its not a bad idea to change the oil and pull the plugs and squirt some in the cylinders and turn it over by hand a couple of times (no plugs - should turn freely)... after that, spin the engine over with the starter for a min or two to get the oil pump primed and some oil circulated in the engine... Put the plugs back in, pour some gas down the carb and see if she'll start... once it starts, warm it up and change the fluids, belts and hoses, check the rear end and you should be good to go...

Tyson